My move from Detroit to LA begins on Monday, when Jason Torchinsky hops into a luxurious 2022 Jeep Wagoneer to tow my 1979 Jeep Cherokee Golden Eagle, while I freeze my butt off in a 1966 Ford Mustang whose heater works about as well as the breath from a small cat. Needless to say: I’m excited! Here’s a look at the route we’re taking; we plan to host meetups at some major cities in Indiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Nevada, and then eventually in LA. Come say hi!
I’ll be honest and say that my move is an absolute disaster. Nearly a decade in Michigan, a single man with too much space, an obsession with large machines — it all adds up to shit, a whole lot of shit. And I’ve got to get rid of it, pronto.
But packing is really the least of my concerns at this point; I’ve got to run this publication, write the finale for Project Cactus (and help edit the video!), plan the logistics of this move, and then I’ve got to deal with the fact that my tools are buried in a sheet of ice in my garage thanks to a pipe-burst the other day:
Our EIC @davidntracy is about to have all of his tools literally frozen to Michigan. Will he ever actually move? pic.twitter.com/CxurHBbdhM
— The Autopian (@the_autopian) December 20, 2022
On top of that, the city is up my Arse again:
As for Christmas-y things? You can forget about those. I’ll call my family in Germany on Christmas eve, down the box of chocolates my wonderful business partner Beau sent me, and keep plugging away at that Project Cactus Finale until it’s published on the J-man’s birthday. Then I’ll pack all night so that on the 26th, the day Jason Torchinsky and his awesome son Otto show up, we can disembark.
By the way, here’s our route:
We’re headed south to avoid snowy mountain passes, since my brother’s 1966 Ford Mustang has Douglas tires that are horrible on anything that isn’t dry, and the Wagoneer that Jeep graciously lent us is on all-terrains, though perhaps more importantly, it’ll be towing this thing:
I’ve rented a U-Haul trailer for $400; that plus the Golden Eagle should weigh about 7,000 pounds, so I’m excited to see how that boosted straight-six in that Wagoneer handles it.
I’m less excited about driving the Mustang in 15F temperatures and salt-covered roads. The good thing is that I recently had it undercoated out of an abundance of caution:
In preparation for my drive to Los Angeles, I'm having the Mustang undercoated. This thing may see salt on the drive, and I have to make sure it's protected! pic.twitter.com/tHzU3CN0WG
— David Tracy (@davidntracy) December 16, 2022
I’m now going to drain the 15W-40 goop in the crankcase for some 10W-30 Synthetic Blend Shell Rotella, and then hope the play in that passenger’s side control arm bushing doesn’t get out of hand. Else, I may need to borrow one of y’all’s garages.
Anyway, follow our Twitter page to stay up to date on our trip, as well as on meetups we have along the way; expect those to be held in classy locations like Walmart parking lots.
Wow, the US is huge. Hopefully there will be an after the holidays winter Autopian meet up in LA.
The route goes through some high elevations on I-40: ABQ is at 5000′, Flagstaff is at 7000′, and it probably does not drop below 4000′ at any point in between. So that turbo I-6 in the Wagoneer was a good call.
Also, I can’t wait to see how the Mustang does on some of those highway grades out west — although it may be a blessing in disguise that it is not during the heat of summer.
Did the move from Chicago to LA 30+yrs ago moved to Albuquerque 28yrs. ago….are you staying over in Albuquerque? When? Shoot me an email and I might see about coming out to meet up with you and your possee!
This sounds like a fun roadtrip! Make sure to send your current City Hall a random greasy and/or rusty CAR PART every Christmas.
Great opportunity to get a bunch of your stuff to LA by filling the back of that Jeep, will be interesting to see how the new one performs (i am hemi bias but that new I6 looks pretty cool)
Um, have you checked a weather forecast? I’m getting continuous updates about once in a generation storms, bomb cyclones, the polar vortex etc.
Mostly where you are.
On the bright side, profoundly bad ideas make for great writing, and the mustang probably won’t overheat.
sounds like it will combine elements of Moby Dick with the travel planning of the Donner party.
Can’t wait to read about it! Have fun!
Time for a rant about the Donner Party aftermath: What’s really messed up (from my perspective) is the town of Truckee named several streets after the Donner party — more accurately the Donner-Reed Party — and the state named a lake, state park, and a mountain pass on I80 near where a bunch of Donner-Reed people were buried in snow while trying to summon help, after the Donner Party. Of the 87 people in the Donner-Reed Party, only 48 survived. All suffered from cold and malnutrition. They ate shoes, leather jackets, their animals and eventually the corpses of their travel companions.
It seems somehow disrespectful for the town and state to name so many landmarks after such tragedy. Unless, of course, California DOT intends to remind travelers that I80 in the winter months can be a deathtrap.
The worst one, IMO, is the Donner Party Picnic Area.
If you stop at the snack bar, don’t order the burgers.
Hey David, if you need that (home) garage in Abq, I’ve got one with an assortment of tools.
Get a plug in heated seat cushion for the Mustang- it will stop you from dying, mostly
Taxpayers in Troy, MI rejoice as effective January 1 city lays off surplus Housing and Zoning Inspector!
————-
Practice ‘parade wave’ as thousands throng interstate highway for 2400 miles along travel route to see automotive blog ‘conquering hero’ transit country!
Be gracious (clean fingernails for photo op) when accepting ‘key to city’ upon entering LA!
I am surprised the city isn’t holding a parade/celebration with a police escort out of town. Safe travels and you may want to look into a 12v ceramic heater to plug in the Mustang so you don’t freeze to death.
Safe travels!
The Ballad of David Tracy
Come and listen to a story ’bout a man named Dave
Poor engineer barely kept the rust at bay
Then one day he was wrenching on a Jeep,
And down on his tools came a flood of water
(H2O that is, agua, Adam’s ale)
Well the next thing you know Dave’s posting online
Autopian folk said Dave move away from there
Said California is the place you oughta be
So he loaded up the stang and he moved to LA
(Studio City that is, swimming pools, rust-free cars)
Hey David, now is definitely not the time to do it, but since you’re going to be moving out that way you should definitely drive on “The loneliest road in America,” US Route 50 at some point. Great potential for a road trip from LA.
With the way his cars are that will end up being stranded on the loneliest road in America.
David’s route doesn’t seem to include Highway 50 in Utah or Nevada. Maybe there are other chambers of commerce calling their roads the loneliest in America.
Oh, for heaven’s sake. Ignore my comment. I didn’t see Mr.Asa’s comment when I shot my mouth off.
TBH now might be the time to do it, while there’s a brand-new support vehicle on hand.
Wow, David, the things you do for fun give me severe anxiety.
Is there a time crunch the necessitates executing this move during a once-in-a-generation weather event that will plunge most of the country into temperatures colder than they ever typically see? Because, man, this is something that I’d rather do during the Springtime.
Wishing you the best of luck! Have a good time, and be safe!
Didn’t you hear? I’m using SYNTHETIC BLEND.
All should be well.
Can…can we talk about why the founder of the world’s premier automotive publication is pouring synthetic blend instead of the full-synthetic good stuff into a classic Mustang? I do insist on being irrationally, inconsolably upset about this.
That city HATES you! I bet they’re mostly still mad about the greep jeep!
That inspector probably drives by every week looking for something to write up.
Make sure to stop by Russell’s Travel Center on the TX-NM border on I-40. Good restaurant and a nifty car museum. It has a pristine 80’s El Camino!
Hold on! Where did this brand spanking new white jeep that the other J-man will navigate come from? (forgive the dangling participle)
Sounds like Jeep the company is lending it to them. Very nice of them!
No everyone is on Twitter. Will there be info here for the send-off in Troy?
Where did you have the undercoating done? I am thinking my 914 would benefit.
We’ll make announcements here, too.
I did it at Krown in Rochester Hills.
Thanks. I see they have the photo of your Mustang on their front page!
Have you considered a Mastodon instance for members?
Yup not a tweeter especially since some control freak bought it and sunk it.
Boo, no Chicago stops!
Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I’m off work, so I’m half tempted to drive to Indy… but I probably won’t.
“I’ll call my family in Germany on Christmas eve, down the box of chocolates my wonderful business partner Beau sent me, and keep plugging away at that Project Cactus Finale until it’s published on the J-man’s birthday.”
I stopped for a moment and thought, “Huh, I didn’t know Torch was born on Christmas. How ironic.” Then I realized we were talking about the other J-man.
They’re both jewish so it is an easy mistake to make.
Rubbish? Rubbish?! When did Troy move to the UK?
DT. Tenant from Hell.
My landlord would disagree!
DT. Neighbor from Hell.
Very wise going south, David. Though I was hoping to save the day (or provide a meal/drink) if you came through on I-80.
Forecasted high of 18 in Detroit Monday. Dress warm 😉
Hey Tracy, what’s your opinion on undercoating a new car?
I’m all for it.
You don’t get it, you get oxidation problems. It’ll cost you a heck of a lot more than $500.
Ya know, they put that Tru-Coat on at the factory. There’s nothin’ I can do about that.
“Want me to clean up? Fuck you, I’ll leave!”
Is what they’re going to think you said.
To the City, yes!
To the landlord, no! Those people deserve canonization!